Worcester State 3, Salem State 0
Worcester, MA --- Junior keeper Rachael Armenti (W. Boylston, MA) stopped a career-best 14 shots while she notched her sixth shutout of the season to help lead Worcester State to a 3-0 victory over Salem State this afternoon at Coughlin Field.
With the win the Lancers, who haven't lost in seven contests, improve to 9-5-3 overall and 4-0-3 in the MASCAC while the Vikings finish their 2009 campaign at 8-9 and 3-4 in the conference.
WSC will be the second seed in the upcoming conference tournament and face third-seeded MCLA later next week in the semifinals.
The game was scoreless until junior Sarah Connors (Gardner, MA) hit a rocket from 35-yards away from the net in the 34th minute to put Worcester State up 1-0.
The Vikings went on the offense with three shots before the end of the half, but each was scooped up by Armenti.
Much of the action in the first 20 minutes was back and forth as WSC held a 5-4 edge in shots and a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
During this stretch, Salem State had a great chance to knot the score in the 72nd when sophomore Jackie Gauthier (Danvers, MA) headed in a shot and on the rebound of Armenti's rejection freshman Lauren Kilduff (Walpole, MA) tried again with her attempt, but it was kicked out by senior defender Stephanie Demake (Auburn, MA).
Worcester State finally scored when they broke down the Viking defense in the 77th minute when sophomore Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, MA) took a feed from junior Kara Rogato (North Andover, MA).
The Lancers extended the lead in the 83rd when they capitalized on a corner kick. Clifford's kick went right to sophomore Sarah Rafferty (Uxbridge, MA) who headed it in for her second marker of the season to put Worcester State up 3-0.
Salem State tried everything they could do to break the shutout, but many of their attempts were stopped by Armenti and WSC's defense. Their best opportunity came on a header by junior Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA) in the in the 80th minute (with the score still 2-0), but Armenti again turned it aside.
The Blue and Gold held a 17-14 edge (15-11 on goal) in shots and a 3-2 lead in corners. There were also 39 fouls and a yellow card thrown in a physical contest.
Sophomore Lindsey Burke (Harvard, MA) also collected seven saves for the Vikings.